Mack, a full time firefighter and part time saddle maker goes to New Mexico to deliver a saddle. The strained relationship with his busy girlfriend is lightened a bit when she agrees for him to pick her up along the way to accompany him on the trip. Along the way he saves a girl hitchhiker who solves a mystery for him and ultimatley saves his life. In the story some good deeds go unpunished but some come to fruition. He cannot wait to run the gauntlet out of New Mexico.